Ladder



May 16, 1933 J. soNETTo ET Al. 1,909,231

LADDER Filed June 11.` 1931 Patented May 16, 1933 UNITED 7STATES PATENT oF-FICE 1f 1 1 JAMES soNETTo, or ABINGTON, AND PiriLrP CIPRIANO ANii AN'fri'ioNY venere,- 0E

PHILADELPHIA, :PENNSYLVANIA vide a ladder of the stated character which device made andused in LADDER Application led J'une 11, 1931. Serial No.`543,710.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in ladders,l and more particularly to ladders of the fire escape type.

An important object of the invention is to provide Va ladder of the stated character, the

component parts of which are impervious to destruction or damage by tire.

Another object of the invention Uis to provide a ladder of the stated character vhaving novel means for securing the successive steps or rungs to the side runners.

Another object of the invention is to pro* vide a ladder of the stated character which is flexible and which may be rolled or folded into a relatively small area for storage or transportation purposes.

Another objectl of the invention isto prois novelly constructed to prevent the rocking of the steps thereof when in use.

Anotherobject of the invention is to provide a ladder of the stated character having means disposed intermediate the ladder and a building to prevent flames attacking persons descending fromthe upper stories of the building by means of vsaid ladder.

The invention further resides in certain novel features and details of construction set forth hereinafterand shown in the accompanying drawing7 in which:

Figure ll is a Aview in perspective of the accordance with our invention;

Fig. 2 is a fragmentary view in perspective Showing the method of securing the steps to the side'runners;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevation of Fig. 2; Y Y

Fig. 4 is an enlarged sectional view on line Ll--'4C,'Fig. 2; and f Fig. 5 is a fragmentary view in perspective showing a modification for securing the steps to the side runners.

Referring now more particularly to the drawing, a ladder made in accordance with this invention comprises a pair of longitudinal runners l, 1, each of which in the present instance we prefer to construct with a series of aligned broken chain sections designated as a, b, c, etc.

A plurality of parallel steps 2 are trans-V versely disposed one V-belojwthe other inter-vr mediatethe successive chain sections of theI fer to secure the said `steps by means of U` shaped elements 3 and 3a whiclnas shown in' Fig. 4 of the drawing are oppositely dis-,

posed andinalignment with respect to each other., the ends of the lower of the saidelements passing-upward and entirely through the step 2 and being secured at theunder` side of the steps by. a. threaded collare, the upper ends thereof being joined to the downwardlyextending U-1nember 3a by `means of arthreaded sleeve 5. The adjacent endsof.

the two successive chainsections are secured respectively to the. U-.elementsv as shown in. thedrawing.` l o In usingthe U-shaped elements in agman'ner shown in Fig. l of thegdrawing7 I prefer to have the extremities thereof spaced a suitable distance with respect to each vother at the point wherethefsaid extremities engage the steps 2 for the purpose of preventing,as` far as possible, the rocking of the steps 2 when theweightof a Vperson. is resting thereon.l To further steady the steps 2 and eliminate the rocking thereof, thesaid steps .are provided with'the outwardly extending por--A tionsV 6, which are adapted to contact ywith the outer wall ofthe building vwhen the lad-f der is in position to enable personsto escape from the upper stories thereof. w

TOften times in descending from the upperstories ofa'building byr means of laddersfo'fthe.fcharactereherein setpyforthythe person Y mu's'tpassoutwardly of aavindow'in a lower storyiofgthe building andshould flames be issuing; therefrom,l .the person L is' likely to be injured.; Toy normally. prevent the occur-v rence Aofsuch a catastrophe,r we providea lieX-ible asbestoscurtain 7 extending thefen-vl tire lengthoftheladder and secured to'ech of the" extendinggportions V6 of thesteps' 2 throughout its length, the said curtain normally residing between the steps of the ladder and the vvall of the building.

For the purpose of securing the ladder in position and preventing the dropping thereof When disposed outwardly from the Window of a building, the upper extremities of the uppermost chain sections are provided With an enlarged annular ring 8, of sufficient diameter to permit a bar or rod 9 to be inserted therein, the said bar 9 being of sufficient length to engage the inner surface of themoulding of the Window from ladder is projected.

A modification of the manner in Which We secure the chain sections to the parallel step elements 2 is shown in Fig. 5 and consists in securing V-elements l0 to the upper and lovver surfaces of the steps adjacent the ends thereof, the adjacent extremities of the suc cessive chain sections being secured thereto in a manner similar to that described above for securing the chain sections to the U-elements 3 and 3a.

It Will be noted that by constructing the ladder comprisingthe longitudinal runners l, l and transverse steps 2 of metal or other Which the said suitable lire impervious material,`vve provide a device which is very desirable for use in the home. Furthermore, by employing chain sections in accordance With our invention, the slight increase in the Weight of the ladder effects a substantial steadying tendency to the said ladder When suspended outwardly from the Window of a building for purposes of escape.

While We have set forth the embodiment of our invention for the purpose of description, it Will be apparent that We are not limited in the construction thereof, except as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a ladder of the character described, a pair of flexible lire impervious runners, each comprising a plurality of aligned suc'- cessive sections, a plurality of horizontally disposed steps having extending portions for bracing purposes, and a pluralitv of U-elements secured to said steps adjacent the ends thereof and in opposed relation, the said elements arranged for connection With the adjacent ends .of the said aligned runner sections.

2. In a ladder of the character described, a pair of flexible fire impervious runners, each comprising a plurality of aligned successive sections, a plurality of horizontally disposed steps having extending portions for bracing purposes, and a plurality of V-elements secured t0 said steps adjacent the ends-thereof and in opposed relation to eachother, the said elements arranged for connection With the adjacent ends of the said aligned runner sections.

3. In a ladder of the character described,

jacent ends of the said aligned runnerV sec-.

tions, threadedmeans for securing said U- elenients to said steps and a fire impervious curtain extending the entire length of the ladder and secured to the extending portions of the steps.- 1

e. In a ladder of the stated character, comprising a pair of runners each comprising a plurality of aligned successive sections,

means for securing a plurality of horizon-v taliy disposed steps intermediate said seetions, said means comprising oppositely disposed U-members, one of Which extends through the said step, and threaded means for securely joining the opposed extremities of the said members, the adjacent ends of said aligned 'successive sections being secured to said U-members.

5. In a ladder of the character described,

a pair of runners, each comprising a plurality of aligned successive sections, a plurality of step elements, members extending through the steps adjacent the ends thereof in opposed relation transversely with respectV to said steps, and means securing said members to said steps, the said members being arranged for co-nnection vvith the adjacent ends of the aligned runner sections.

6. In a ladder' of the character set forth,

runner members comprising a plurality of' aligned successive sections, a plurality of steps, members extending through the steps adjacent the ends thereof in opposed relation, and threaded means securing said members to said steps, the said members being arranged for connection with the adjacent ends of the aligned runner sections.

7. In a ladder of the type described, runner members comprising a plurality ofV aligned successive sections, a plurality of steps, members extending through the steps adjacent the ends thereof in' opposed relation and transversely With respect thereto, and

threaded means securing said members `to said steps, the said members being arranged for connection With the adj acent eil/ds of the aligned runner` sections.

' JAMES SONETTO.

PHILIP CIPRIANO. ANTHONY `VERCIO. 

